A man who was involved in a car accident on the N2 near Mossel Bay, puzzled emergency personnel when he ran away from the accident scene shortly after their arrival.
After closer inspection 24 bags of fresh abalone was found in his vehicle.
The suspect lost control of his red Toyota Carolla and left the road. The vehicle came to a stop in bushes and the man ran away when an ambulance stopped at the scene.
During closer inspection police found 4000 abalone in the trunk of the vehicle.
The abalone, weighing 340kg has a street value of R400 000.
An eyewitness told Algoa FM News the man made a phone call from his cellphone shortly after the incident.
Members from the Langeberg K9 dog unit arrested the suspect near the scene.
The man remains in custody and will appear in the Mossel Bay Magistrate Court on Monday.
